View source for Watford F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{About||the women's football club|Watford F.C. Women}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Watford
| current = 2025–26 Watford F.C. season
| image = Watford.svg
| upright = 0.75
| alt = Watford badge
| fullname = Watford Football Club
| nickname = {{Plainlist|
* The Hornets
* Yellow Army
* The 'Orns
* The Golden Boys
}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=y|1881}}
| captain = 
| ground = [[Vicarage Road]]
| capacity = 22,200<ref name="cap201920">{{cite web |title=Premier League Handbook 2019/20 |url=https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2020/07/24/70ec483e-7207-42cd-89d9-576e53befedd/2019-20-PL-Handbook-240720.pdf|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727063651/https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2020/07/24/70ec483e-7207-42cd-89d9-576e53befedd/2019-20-PL-Handbook-240720.pdf|archive-date=27 July 2020 |publisher=Premier League |access-date=27 July 2020|page=38}}</ref>
| owner = [[Gino Pozzo]]
| chairman = Scott Duxbury<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/club/club-statement-0|title=Club Statement|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220100311/https://www.watfordfc.com/club/club-statement-0|archive-date=20 December 2016|work=watfordfc.com|access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref>
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| manager = [[Javi Gracia]]
| league = {{English football updater|Watford}}
| season = {{English football updater|Watford2}}
| position = {{English football updater|Watford3}}
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| website = {{URL|https://watfordfc.com}}
}}

'''Watford Football Club''' is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Watford]], [[Hertfordshire]], England. The club competes in the [[EFL Championship]], the second tier of [[English football league system|English football]].

The team played at several grounds in their early history, including what is now West Herts Sports Club,<ref>{{Cite web|title=History – Club History|url=https://www.watfordfc.com/history/club|access-date=2021-04-06|website=watfordfc.com|language=en}}</ref> before moving to [[Vicarage Road]] in 1922. They have a [[Luton Town F.C.–Watford F.C. rivalry|long-standing rivalry]] with nearby club [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].

During [[Graham Taylor]]'s tenure as manager at the club between 1977 and 1987, Watford rose from the fourth tier to the first. The team finished second in the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in [[1982–83 Watford F.C. season|1982–83]], competed in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] in [[1983–84 UEFA Cup|1983–84]], and reached the [[1984 FA Cup final]]. Watford declined between 1987 and 1997, before Taylor returned as manager, leading the team to successive [[Promotion and relegation|promotions]] from the renamed [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]{{efn|The [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] was renamed the Second Division upon the inception of the [[Premier League]] in 1992–93.<ref name=arsenal/>|name = d3|group = lower-alpha}} to the [[Premier League]] for one season in [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|1999–2000]]. The club played again in the highest tier in [[2006–07 Watford F.C. season|2006–07]] under [[Aidy Boothroyd]]'s management, and then again from 2015 to 2020, reaching the [[2019 FA Cup final]], their second FA Cup final, but losing to a record-equalling 6–0 score line. In April 2021, Watford were promoted back into the Premier League having spent just one season in the Championship, but were relegated back to the Championship in May 2022.

==History==
{{main|History of Watford F.C.}}

===Early years===
The origins of the club can be traced back to 1881 when Watford Rovers were formed by Henry Grover, who went on to play for the club as a [[full-back (football)|full back]].<ref name="wfcnotablepeople">{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10400~65917,00.html |title=They shaped the club |access-date=27 October 2009 |publisher=Watford Football Club |date=29 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203170637/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10400~65917%2C00.html |archive-date= 3 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=j15/> Rovers, originally composed entirely of [[amateur football|amateur players]], held home games at several locations in the [[Watford|town of Watford]].<ref name=j15>Jones 1996, p. 15.</ref><ref name=chronology/> The team first competed in the [[FA Cup]] in the [[1886–87 FA Cup|1886–87 season]], and in 1889 Watford won the [[Herts Senior Cup|County Cup]] for the first time. The team became the football section of "West Hertfordshire Club and Ground" in 1891, and consequently moved to a ground on [[Cassio Road]]. In 1893 Watford Rovers changed their name to "West Herts"  and in 1896 they joined the [[Southern Football League]].  West Herts fortunes slumped at the start of the 1897&ndash;98 season and attendances were less than 200.  They took the bold step of turning professional and their fortunes revived.  Watford St. Mary's were runners up in the Hertfordshire Senior Cup of 1894&ndash;95 and attracted crowds of 400 to 500 even when West Herts were at home. The two clubs talked of an amalgamation, which ultimately occurred on 15 April 1898. This was reported by the ''[[Watford Observer]]'' of 7 May 1898.  It was agreed that the two clubs should complete their remaining fixtures for the season. The new club was named Watford Football Club.<ref name=chronology>Jones 1996, pp. 8–9.</ref>

[[File:SkillyWilliams.jpg|thumb|200px|left|alt=The head and shoulders of a man, wearing a hat and coat.|Long-serving [[Skilly Williams]] (1890–1959) was Watford's first choice goalkeeper between 1914 and 1926.]]Following [[Promotion and relegation|relegation]] to the Southern League Second Division in 1903, Watford appointed its first manager – former England international and First Division top scorer [[John Goodall]]. He led Watford to promotion, and kept the team in the division until his departure in 1910.<ref name=managers/> Despite financial constraints, Watford won the Southern League title in the [[1914–15 Watford F.C. season|1914–15 season]] under his successor, [[Harry Kent (footballer)|Harry Kent]]. Watford held the title for five years following the suspension of the Southern League during the First World War – after finishing the [[1919–20 Watford F.C. season|1919–20 season]] runners-up on [[goal average]], the club resigned from the Southern League to join the new [[Football League Third Division]].<ref>Jones 1996, p. 267.</ref>

From [[1921–22 in English football|1921–22]], the third tier of [[The Football League]] consisted of two parallel sections of 22 clubs, fighting both for promotion to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] and also battling to hold on to their league status.<ref name=arsenal>Hodgson, Guy (17 December 1999). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-how-consistency-and-caution-made-arsenal-englands-greatest-team-of-the-20th-century-1133020.html "How consistency and caution made Arsenal England's greatest team of the 20th century"]. ''The Independent.'' Retrieved 21 April 2012.</ref> There was a re-election system in place which meant the bottom two teams in each of the two divisions had to apply for re-election to the league.<ref>Titford, Roger (July 2006). [http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/1287/29/ "Fifth amendment"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519105333/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/1287/29/ |date=19 May 2012 }}. ''[[When Saturday Comes]]''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Watford finished outside the top six league positions in every season between 1922 and 1934. Following Kent's departure in 1926, they finished 21st out of 22 clubs in [[1926–27 in English football|1926–27]], but were unanimously re-elected to the league after a ballot of clubs in the top two divisions of The Football League.<ref>{{cite book|title=League Football and the Men Who Made It|first=Simon|last=Inglis|publisher=Willow Books|year=1988|isbn=0-00-218242-4|page=132}}</ref> By contrast, under [[Neil McBain]] and subsequently [[Bill Findlay (Scottish footballer)|Bill Findlay]], the team recorded five consecutive top six finishes between [[1934–35 in English football|1934–35]] and [[1938–39 in English football|1938–39]], and won the [[Football League Third Division South Cup]] in 1937.<ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-three-south-cup/honours "English Division Three South Cup : Honours"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204094305/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-three-south-cup/honours|date=4 December 2008}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> The Football League was suspended in 1939 due to the Second World War.

===Post-war era===
[[File:Watford FC League Performance.svg|thumb|250px|right|Chart of yearly table positions of Watford in the English football league.]]Football resumed in 1946, with Watford still in the Third Division South. A 23rd-placed finish in [[1950–51 in English football|1950–51]] meant that the club had to apply for re-election to the league once more, but again teams in the First and Second Divisions unanimously voted for Watford to stay in the league.<ref>{{cite book|title=Denied F.C.: The Football League Election Struggles|first=Dave|last=Twdell|publisher=Yore Publications|year=2001|isbn=978-1-874427-98-8|page=18}}</ref> McBain returned in 1956,<ref name=managers/> and the team remained in the division until 1958; the league was restructured into four national divisions for the [[1958–59 in English football|1958–59]] season, and Watford were placed in the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]]. [[Ron Burgess (footballer)|Ron Burgess]] replaced McBain during that season, and in the following campaign Burgess presided over Watford's first Football League promotion. This team included Fourth Division top scorer [[Cliff Holton]],<ref>Ross, James M. (15 July 2011) [https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html "English league leading goalscorers"]. [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]]. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> who scored a club record 42 league goals in the season.<ref name=wfcrecords/> Holton was sold to Northampton the following year after another 34 goals, to the anger of supporters.<ref>Jones 1996, p. 123.</ref> Burgess was succeeded by [[Bill McGarry (footballer)|Bill McGarry]], who bought new players such as [[Charlie Livesey]] and [[Ron Saunders]], and in his only season at the club led the club to what was at the time its highest ever league position: third in the Third Division.<ref name=mcgarry>Jones 1996, pp. 147, 151, 205, 272–273.</ref> Eighteen-year-old Northern Irish goalkeeper [[Pat Jennings]] also featured under McGarry, and made his international debut despite being a Third Division player.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/297/legends-of-the-game/pat-jennings/|title=Pat Jennings|access-date=27 October 2009|publisher=[[Irish Football Association]]|archive-date=12 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112082144/http://www.irishfa.com/squad-profiles/297/legends-of-the-game/pat-jennings|url-status=dead}}</ref>

McGarry joined [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich]] in 1964, and was replaced by player-manager [[Ken Furphy]], from [[Workington A.F.C.|Workington]]<ref name=mcgarry/> Furphy rebuilt the team around players such as [[Keith Eddy]] and [[Dennis Bond (footballer)|Dennis Bond]], but after holding [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] to a draw in the FA Cup and narrowly failing to win promotion in [[1966–67 in English football|1966–67]], Bond was sold to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for [[Pound sterling|£]]30,000, Watford's record transfer receipt at the time.<ref name="Jones 1996, p. 43">Jones 1996, p. 43.</ref> Furphy's rebuilding came to fruition in 1969 with the signing of [[Barry Endean]], whose arrival marked the start of an unbeaten run after Christmas.<ref>Jones 1996, p. 80.</ref> Watford secured the Third Division title in April, at home to [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]. A year later Watford reached the FA Cup semi-final for the first time, defeating [[Football League First Division|First Division]] teams [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and Liverpool along the way.<ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1969-1970/results "Watford 1969–1970: results"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727120045/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1969-1970/results |date=27 July 2014 }}. Statto.com. Retrieved 4 May 2012.</ref> Hampered by a lack of funds, however, Furphy eventually joined [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], to be succeeded by [[George Kirby (footballer)|George Kirby]]. Forced to sell players to survive, Watford fell back into the Third Division in 1972. The team continued to struggle in the third tier, and despite a managerial change, Watford were relegated again in 1975.<ref name=managers/><ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/history/post-ww2 "Watford history 1945 to 1975"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230135342/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/history/post-ww2 |date=30 December 2009 }}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref>

{| class="toccolours" style="width:180px; float: right;"
|-
|
{{Image label begin|image=Soccer Field Transparant.svg|link=|width=175|caption=Watford's starting lineup for the 1984 FA Cup final.}}
{{Image label small|x=0.20|y=0.05|scale=350|text=[[Steve Sherwood|Sherwood]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.05|y=0.20|scale=350|text=[[David Bardsley|Bardsley]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.14|y=0.15|scale=350|text=[[Lee Sinnott|Sinnott]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.28|y=0.15|scale=350|text=[[Steve Terry|Terry]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.39|y=0.20|scale=350|text=[[Neil Price (footballer)|Price]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.05|y=0.38|scale=350|text=[[Nigel Callaghan|Callaghan]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.15|y=0.32|scale=350|text=[[Les Taylor (footballer)|L Taylor]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.28|y=0.32|scale=350|text=[[Kenny Jackett|Jackett]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.15|y=0.52|scale=350|text=[[George Reilly|Reilly]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.28|y=0.52|scale=350|text=[[Mo Johnston|Johnston]]}}
{{Image label small|x=0.38|y=0.38|scale=350|text=[[John Barnes|Barnes]]}}
{{image label end}}
|-
|Watford's starting line-up for the [[1984 FA Cup Final]]. [[Paul Atkinson (footballer, born 1961)|Paul Atkinson]] came on as a substitute; Graham Taylor managed the team.<ref name="fa1984cupfinal">{{cite web|title=Classic Cup Finals: 1984|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFACup/History/HistoryOfTheFACup/1984EvertonWatford|access-date=27 October 2009|publisher=[[The Football Association]]}}</ref>
|}

===Elton John era===
Musician [[Elton John]], a lifelong Watford supporter, became club chairman in 1976. The singer declared an ambition to take the team into the First Division, and dismissed Kirby's successor [[Mike Keen]] in April 1977.<ref>Phillips, Oliver (21 January 2002). [http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/35787.print/ "Bitter times give way at last"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 20 April 2012.</ref> When [[Graham Taylor]] was named as Keen's successor, the club was still in the Fourth Division.<ref name="bbctaylor">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/1801976.stm|title=Graham Taylor profile|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=5 February 2002}}</ref> Taylor achieved promotion in his [[1977–78 Watford F.C. season|first season]]; Watford won the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] title, recording the most wins, fewest defeats, most goals scored and fewest goals conceded of any side in the division.<ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-four-old/1977-1978/table "English Division Four (old) 1977–1978 : Table] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728092419/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-four-old/1977-1978/table|date=28 July 2016}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Promotion to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] followed in [[1978–79 in English football|1978–79]], and [[Ross Jenkins (footballer, born 1951)|Ross Jenkins]] finished the season as the league's top scorer with 29 goals. Watford consolidated with 18th and 9th-placed finishes over the following two seasons, and secured promotion to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] for the first time in [[1981–82 in English football|1981–82]], finishing second behind [[Luton Town F.C. and Watford F.C. rivalry|rivals]] [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].<ref name="bbctaylor"/><ref name="promotion1982">Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-two-old/1981-1982/table "English Division Two (old) 1981–1982 : Table"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409202551/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-two-old/1981-1982/table|date=9 April 2017}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref>

Watford started the [[1982–83 Watford F.C. season|1982–83]] season with four league wins from the opening five fixtures; in the space of seven years, the club had climbed from bottom place in the lowest division of The Football League to top position in the highest division.<ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1975-1976/table/1975-08-23 "Watford 1975–1976 : English Division Four (old) Table"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143235/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1975-1976/table/1975-08-23|date=24 September 2015}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref><ref name=top>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1982-1983/table/1982-09-11 "Watford 1982–1983 English Division One (old): Table on 11.09.1982."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924143237/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/1982-1983/table/1982-09-11 |date=24 September 2015 }}. Statto.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref> Watford were unable to maintain a title challenge, but eventually finished the season second behind Liverpool, which ensured [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] qualification for the following season. [[Luther Blissett]] finished the season as the [[List of English football champions|First Division top scorer]], before signing for Italian [[Serie A]] side [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] for £1&nbsp;million at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/169701.star_striker_blissett_heads_for_new_life_at_italys_ac_milan/|title=Star striker Blissett heads for new life at Italy's AC Milan|work=Watford Observer|date=6 July 1983|access-date=27 October 2009}}</ref> An [[FA Cup Final]] appearance followed in [[1984 FA Cup Final|the 1984 fixture]], where they lost to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref name="fa1984cupfinal"/> After guiding Watford to a ninth-place finish in [[1986–87 in English football|1986–87]], Taylor left the club to manage [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref name="bbctaylor"/>

Following Taylor's departure, [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] manager [[Dave Bassett]] was appointed as his replacement, and England [[winger (football)|winger]] [[John Barnes]] was sold to Liverpool. After 4<!---consistent with 23, per MOS:NUM---> wins from his opening 23 league fixtures, Bassett was sacked in January 1988. Watford were bottom of the First Division at the time of his departure, and [[Steve Harrison (footballer)|Steve Harrison]] could not prevent relegation at the end of the season. In [[1988–89 in English football|1988–89]], Harrison's Watford failed to return to the First Division, after defeat in the Second Division play-offs. The under-18 team won the [[FA Youth Cup]], beating [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] 2–1 after extra time,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAYouthCup/History/FAYouthCupWinners.aspx|title=FA Youth Cup winners|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=22 October 2009}}</ref> with future [[England national football team|England international]] [[David James (footballer, born 1970)|David James]] in goal for the Hornets. Harrison departed in 1990, and over the next few years, the closest Watford came to promotion was a seventh-placed finish in Division One{{refn|The second division was renamed Division 1 upon the inception of the Premier League in 1992–93,<ref name=arsenal/> and rebranded as the Football League Championship in 2004–05.<ref name="Joy divisions">Titford, Roger (July 2009). [http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/5026/29/ "Joy divisions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520164017/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/5026/29/ |date=20 May 2012 }}. ''When Saturday Comes''. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref>|name = flc|group = lower-alpha}} in the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95 season]].<ref name=recentseasons/> However, in the following season – [[Glenn Roeder]]'s third as manager – Watford struggled. Despite the return of Graham Taylor as caretaker manager in February 1996, the club was relegated to Division Two.<ref name=managers/><ref name="bbctaylor"/>

Following the relegation, Taylor became director of football, with former Watford midfielder [[Kenny Jackett]] as manager. After a mid-table finish in Division Two in [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]], Jackett was demoted to the position of assistant manager. Taylor returned as manager, and won the Second Division title in [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]] – Watford's second league title under his management. A second successive promotion followed in [[1998–99 Watford F.C. season|1998–99]] after a 2–0 [[1999 Football League First Division play-off Final|play-off final]] victory over [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. Watford's first [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|Premiership season]] started with an early victory over Liverpool, but Watford's form soon faded, and the club were relegated. Graham Taylor retired at the end of the [[2000–01 Watford F.C. season|2000–01 season]],<ref name="bbctaylor"/> and was replaced by [[Gianluca Vialli]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3004527/Vialli-unveiled-as-new-Watford-manager.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3004527/Vialli-unveiled-as-new-Watford-manager.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Vialli unveiled as new Watford manager|work=Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 October 2009 | first=William | last=Johnson | date=1 May 2001}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Wage bills at the club rose by £4&nbsp;million during Vialli's tenure, and the club finished 14th in the division in 2001–02. Vialli was sacked at the end of the season, following a dispute with the club's board over the wage bill.<ref>Hughes, Matt (14 June 2002). [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/vialli-sacked-by-watford-6307763.html "Vialli sacked by Watford"]. ''[[Evening Standard]]''. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/2045074.stm|title=Vialli sacked|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=14 June 2002}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Ray Lewington]], who had joined the club the previous summer as Vialli's reserve team manager.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/3030941/Watford-appoint-Lewington.html "Watford appoint Lewington"]. ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]''. 11 July 2002. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref>

===Financial struggles===

[[File:Nyron Nosworthy Watford.jpg|thumb|right|270px|alt=Two men wearing yellow shirts, red shorts and red socks, standing on a grass field. Both appear to be celebrating: one man has his arms aloft, the other is following him.|[[Nyron Nosworthy]] celebrates a goal against [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in the 2011–12 season.]]Watford's weak financial position was exposed in [[2002–03 Watford F.C. season|2002–03]], following the collapse of [[ITV Digital]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/2278920.stm|title=Watford in financial peril|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=24 September 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/2737337.stm|title=Vialli sues Watford|work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 February 2011|date=7 February 2003}}</ref> The club was facing administration, but an agreement by players and staff to a 12% wage deferral helped the club's cash flow, and a run to the FA Cup semi-final generated vital revenue.<ref name="bbc2003cuprun">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/2847751.stm|title=Hornets eye stadium repurchase|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=13 March 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/2281913.stm|title=Watford players agree pay cut|access-date=27 October 2009|work=BBC Sport |date=25 September 2002}}</ref> Financial constraints saw a large number of players released that summer. After consolidating in [[2003–04 Watford F.C. season|2003–04]], [[2004–05 Watford F.C. season|the following season]] started well, with the club in the upper half of the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] at the end of September. Poor form, however, saw the club drop towards the relegation zone. Despite reaching the semi-final of the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], Watford's league form did not improve, and Lewington was sacked in March 2005.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/4371469.stm "Watford dismiss manager Lewington"]. BBC Sport. 22 March 2005. Retrieved 24 April 2012.</ref> His successor, [[Aidy Boothroyd]],<ref name=boothroydsummary/> led the club to Championship survival.<ref name=recentseasons/>

===Return to the Premier League===
Watford finished third in the league in Boothroyd's [[2005–06 Watford F.C. season|first full season]],<ref name=recentseasons/> and defeated [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] 3–0 in the [[2006 Football League Championship play-off Final|play-off final]] to gain promotion to the [[Premier League]].<ref name=Leedsplayoff/> But the team did not record a Premier League win until November, and [[Ashley Young]] was sold to Aston Villa for a club record fee of £9.65&nbsp;million in January 2007.<ref name="wfcrecords"/><ref name="bbcsellyoung">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/6277389.stm|title=Young completes £9.65m Villa move|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=23 January 2007}}</ref> Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games,<ref name=recentseasons/> but did reach the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]].<ref>McNulty, Phil (14 April 2007). [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/6534697.stm "Watford 1–4 Man Utd"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref> Boothroyd continued as manager, and spent heavily on players, including a then-club record £3.25&nbsp;million for [[Nathan Ellington]].<ref name="bbcbuyellington">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/6969399.stm|title=Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009 | date=29 August 2007}}</ref> Watford led the Championship by several points early in [[2007–08 Watford F.C. season|2007–08]], but only finished sixth;<ref name=recentseasons/> Boothroyd's team were defeated 6–1 on aggregate by [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] in the play-off semi-finals.<ref>McNulty, Phil (14 May 2008). [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7393756.stm "Hull 4–1 Watford (agg 6–1)"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2012.</ref> Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent three months into the [[2008–09 Watford F.C. season|2008–09 season]], with Watford 21st in the Championship table.<ref name=boothroydsummary>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7707054.stm|title=Boothroyd leaves Watford position|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009 | date=3 November 2008}}</ref>

Under Boothroyd's successor, [[Brendan Rodgers]], Watford finished 13th. Rodgers left to manage [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] at the end of the season;<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/8081467.stm "Rodgers confirmed as Reading boss"]. BBC Sport. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2012.</ref> [[Malky Mackay]], who had previously served as caretaker manager, was his replacement.<ref name=MM>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/8098749.stm "Mackay appointed Watford manager"]. BBC Sport. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Amid the departures of several key players during Mackay's tenure, including [[Tommy Smith (footballer, born 1980)|Tommy Smith]] and [[Jay DeMerit]], and the club coming close to [[Administration (British football)|administration]],<ref>Parker, Ian (16 December 2009). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/watford-on-brink-of-administration-1842309.html "Watford on brink of administration"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Watford finished 16th in [[2009–10 Watford F.C. season|2009–10]] and 14th the [[2010–11 Watford F.C. season|following season]].<ref name=managers2>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2741&comp_id=2#teamTabs=managers|title=Watford manager history|publisher=Centurycomm|work=[[Soccerbase]]|access-date=10 March 2011}}</ref> Mackay left to manage [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in June 2011 and was replaced by [[Sean Dyche]].<ref name=MMCC>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13680791|title=Cardiff City appoint Watford's Malky Mackay as manager|work=BBC Sport  |access-date=17 June 2011|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> Despite presiding over Watford's highest league position in four years by finishing 11th, Dyche was dismissed as Watford manager in July 2012.<ref>Matthews, Anthony (6 July 2012). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9804084.Hornets_terminate_Dyche_s_contract/ "Hornets terminate Dyche's contract"]. ''Watford Observer'' Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref>

===Pozzo family era===
In June 2012, [[Laurence Bassini]] completed the sale of the club to the Pozzo family ([[Gino Pozzo]] and his father). Following Dyche's sacking, the new owners brought in former [[Italy national football team|Italy]] international [[Gianfranco Zola]] to take charge.<ref name=zolajoins>Short, Paul (8 July 2012). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/zola-confirmed-as-watford-manager-7922452.html "Zola confirmed as Watford manager"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref> In the [[2012–13 Watford F.C. season|2012–13 season]] Watford finished third in the Championship, and reached the play-off final where they were defeated in the final by [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] 1–0 via an extra-time penalty by [[Kevin Phillips (footballer)|Kevin Phillips]]. The following season, [[Giuseppe Sannino]] replaced Zola, as their new manager and the team finished the season in 13th place. Sannino resigned at the start of the 2014–15 season and was replaced by [[Óscar García Junyent|Óscar García]], who left shortly afterwards for "health reasons".

[[Billy McKinlay]] replaced him but, despite winning 4 points out of a possible 6 under his stewardship, after just eight days he too was replaced, by [[Slaviša Jokanović]]. With Jokanović managing the team, Watford finished second in the Championship, after being edged out on the final day by champions AFC Bournemouth, and were promoted.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/apr/25/brighton-watford-championship-match-report|title= Watford seal Premier League return as Brighton are put to the sword|date=25 April 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espnfc.com/english-league-championship/story/2428642/championship-bournemouth-top-and-derby-denied|title= Bournemouth top and Derby denied |work=ESPN |date=2 May 2015 }}</ref>

Watford did not renew Jokanović's contract and he was replaced by the Spaniard [[Quique Sánchez Flores]] ahead of the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/05/watford-set-to-confirm-appointment-of-quique-flores-as-manager |title=Watford appoint Quique Sánchez Flores as manager |work=The Guardian |date=5 June 2015}}</ref> Under Sánchez Flores Watford finished 13th in the Premier League,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watford-skipper-troy-deeney-slams-7979574 |title=Watford skipper Troy Deeney slams 'crazy' decision to sack Quique Sanchez Flores |first=Mike |last=Walters |work=[[The Daily Mirror]] |date=16 May 2016}}</ref> and reached the semi-finals of the [[2015–16 FA Cup|FA Cup]], ending Arsenal's bid to win the competition for three successive times,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35738604|title=Arsenal 1–2 Watford |date=13 March 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=18 March 2016}}</ref> but were beaten 2–1 by [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]. Near the end of the season, in May 2016, Sánchez Flores and the club enacted a break clause in his contract, and he was replaced by Italian coach [[Walter Mazzarri]] who signed a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/no-break-clause-for-quique-sanchez-flores-as-he-replaces-javi-gracia-as-manager-at-watford-vgqlx9c2w |title=No break clause for Quique Sánchez Flores as he replaces Javi Gracia as manager at Watford |work=[[The Times]] |last=Jacob |first=Gary |date=9 September 2019 |access-date=9 August 2021 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> At the end of the next season, in May 2017, Watford finished 17th and Mazzari resigned,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watfords-ruthless-owners-sack-another-10443654 |title=Watford's ruthless owners sack another manager in Walter Mazzarri — but will stick with their hire-and-fire approach |first=John |last=Cross |work=The Daily Mirror |date=17 May 2017 }}</ref> replaced by [[Marco Silva]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/27/watford-appoint-marco-silva-new-head-coach/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/05/27/watford-appoint-marco-silva-new-head-coach/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Watford appoint Marco Silva as new head coach |first=Sam |last=Wallace |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=27 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The new coach was sacked after approximately six months, following interest from Everton, in January 2018, and the club hired [[Javi Gracia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/601390 |title=Watford name Gracia as new head coach |publisher=Premier League |date=21 January 2018}}</ref> In April 2019 Watford came back from 2–0 down to beat [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] to reach the [[2019 FA Cup final|FA Cup final]] for the second time in their history, with [[Gerard Deulofeu]] scoring twice and [[Troy Deeney]] scoring a penalty in the 94th minute to take it to extra time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-04-07 |title=Watford 3–2 Wolves: Deulofeu inspires stunning comeback to reach FA Cup final |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47763394 |access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref> They met [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the [[2019 FA Cup final|final]] and were defeated 6–0, a joint record margin of victory for an FA Cup Final. In the league Watford finished 11th, with 50 points, both club records for the Premier League era.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premier League Table – Football |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/table |access-date=2019-05-18 |website=BBC Sport}}</ref>

After four games of being in charge in the 2019–20 season, Gracia was sacked due to poor form in the league. 30 minutes after he was sacked, former manager Quique Sánchez Flores was again appointed. He survived only until 1 December 2019 after getting only one win since his appointment in September. A caretaker manager was appointed for one game before [[Nigel Pearson]] came into management.  Watford ended Liverpool's unbeaten run of 44 top-flight games in February 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=We should have seen Liverpool's defeat coming |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/english-premier-league/story/4062829/liverpools-premier-league-streak-finally-ended-at-watford-does-it-change-anything-about-their-season |last=Ames |first=Nick |date=2020-02-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |access-date=2020-05-29}}</ref> but Pearson was sacked 2 games before the end of the season,<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGrath |first1=Mike |title=Nigel Pearson to be replaced as Watford manager for final two games of season |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/07/19/nigel-pearson-replaced-watford-manager-final-two-games-season/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/07/19/nigel-pearson-replaced-watford-manager-final-two-games-season/ |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Telegraph |date=19 July 2020 |access-date=19 July 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the club were relegated, finishing 19th out of 20.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Johnston|first=Neil|date=26 July 2020|title=Arsenal 3–2 Watford: Hornets relegated from Premier League on final day|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/53460584|access-date=26 July 2020}}</ref> Watford finished the [[2020–21 EFL Championship|2020–21 Championship season]] in second place, gaining immediate promotion back to the Premier League, but again finished the following season 19th out of 20 and were relegated back to the Championship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Emma |title=Watford relegated from the Premier League as defeat at Crystal Palace seals their fate |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/watford-relegated-premier-league-defeat-crystal-palace/blt1219299365835c54 |website=Goal |access-date=7 May 2022}}</ref> On June 4, 2024,  the Pozzo family decided to put up 10% of the club for sale under fan ownership in order to generate cash for the club.<ref>{{cite web |title= News: Watford FC To Offer Ownership To Fans |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/club/news-watford-fc-to-offer-ownership-to-fans |website=Watford FC |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

==Club identity==
{{Commons|Watford F.C. kits}}
{{Football kit box
 | align      = left
 | pattern_la = 
 | pattern_b  = _vneckwhite
 | pattern_ra = 
 | pattern_sh = 
 | pattern_so = 
 | leftarm    = 3333EE
 | body       = 3333EE
 | rightarm   = 3333EE
 | shorts     = FFFFFF
 | socks      = 3333EE
 | title      = Watford's colours were blue and white from 1927 until 1959.
}}
Watford's kit has changed considerably over the course of the club's history. The club's kit featured various combinations of red, green and yellow stripes, before a new colour scheme of black and white was adopted for the 1909–10 season. These colours were retained until the 1920s, when the club introduced an all-blue shirt. After a change of colours to gold shirts and black shorts for 1959–60, the team's nickname was changed to The Hornets, after a popular vote via the supporters club. These colours remained until 1976, when Watford's kits started featuring red, and the gold was changed to yellow. That colour scheme has continued into the 21st century.<ref name=historicalkits>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Watford/Watford.htm|access-date=17 October 2009|title=Watford – Historical football kits}}</ref>
{{Football kit box
 | align      = right
 | pattern_la =
 | pattern_b  = _vneckblack
 | pattern_ra =
 | pattern_sh = 
 | pattern_so = 
 | leftarm    = FFCC33
 | body       = FFCC33
 | rightarm   = FFCC33
 | shorts     = 000000
 | socks      = FFCC33
 | title      = The club changed to a gold and black colour scheme in 1959–60.
}}
Watford's initial nickname was ''The Brewers'', in reference to the [[Benskins Brewery]], which owned the freehold of Vicarage Road.<ref name=benskins>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/david-conn-new-owners-of-vicarage-road-revealed-as-watford-wither-643356.html|title=New owners of Vicarage Road revealed as Watford wither|work=The Independent|access-date=20 October 2009|date=21 September 2002|author=Conn, David|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125050433/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1712032.html|archive-date=25 January 2013|url-access=subscription}}</ref> This nickname did not prove particularly popular, and upon the adoption of a blue-and-white colour scheme in the 1920s, the club became predominantly known as ''The Blues''. When Watford changed kit colours in 1959, supporters chose ''The Hornets'' as the team's new nickname, and the club later introduced a crest depicting a hornet.<ref name=historicalkits/> In 1974 the design was changed to depict Harry the Hornet, the club's mascot.<ref name=historicalkits/><ref>Moore, Glenn (19 April 2008). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/anyones-race-top-of-the-league-811847.html "Anyone's race: Top of the league"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> The club's nickname remains, but in 1978 the hornet crest was replaced by a depiction of a [[Hart (deer)|hart]] – a male red fallow deer– on a yellow and black background. A hart represents the town's location in the county of [[Hertfordshire]]. It has now been confirmed by the club that it was in fact a Moose on the crest and not a Hart as previously thought by Watford fans.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/2024/july/03/introducing-watfordfc-moose-your-new-supporter-services-x-account/ | title=Introducing Watford FC Moose: Your New Supporter Services X Account | date=2024-07-03 | website=www.watfordfc.com}}</ref> Until [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]{{refn|Although now located in Greater London, Barnet continue to participate in the [[Herts Senior Cup]], organised by the [[Hertfordshire Football Association]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The history of Barnet FC – 1939 to the 1950s |publisher=Barnet Football Club |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=2 May 2012 |url=http://www.barnetfc.com/page/History/0,,10431~1053449,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311013631/http://www.barnetfc.com/page/History/0,,10431~1053449,00.html |archive-date=11 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ronayne |first=James |date=13 April 2011 |url=http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/bees_sting_boro_in_senior_cup_final_1_863610 |title=Bees sting Boro in Senior Cup Final |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606125758/http://www.thecomet.net/stevenage-fc/bees_sting_boro_in_senior_cup_final_1_863610 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |work=The Comet |access-date=12 August 2012}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} and, later, Stevenage joined the Football League, Watford were Hertfordshire's only league club.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/feb/21/theknowledge.sport | work=The Guardian | title=Whatever happened to Third Lanark? | first=Scott | last=Murray | date=21 February 2001 | access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref> Other nicknames have since been adopted, including ''Yellow Army''<ref>{{cite web |last=Wilson |first=Paul |date=15 April 2007 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/apr/15/watford |title=Feisty Watford a credit to 'best league in the world' |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> and ''The 'Orns''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bagchi |first=Rob |date=4 December 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/04/premier-league-clockwatch-live |title=Premier League clockwatch |work=The Guardian |access-date=21 April 2012}}</ref>

Until April 2019, when Watford played at [[Vicarage Road]] their players traditionally entered the pitch at the start of the game to the ''[[Z-Cars]]'' [[Theme from Z-Cars|theme tune]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7886856.stm |title=FA Cup fifth round as it happened |work=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2009 |access-date=12 August 2012}}</ref> However, in mid-April 2019 the team changed their entrance song to Elton John's "[[I'm Still Standing]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/17578011.watford-change-z-cars-for-elton-johns-im-still-standing-as-vicarage-road-match-day-song/ |title=Watford change Z-Cars for Elton John's I'm Still Standing as Vicarage Road match day song |work=Watford Observer |last=Gray |first=Ryan |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=9 August 2021 }}</ref> The club returned to Z Cars as the theme to welcome players to the pitch in August 2019 at the start of the [[2019–20 Premier League]] season, following fan pressure and petitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/17604261.watford-fans-start-petition-bring-back-z-cars-match-day-music/ |title=Watford fans start petition to bring back Z-Cars as match day music |work=Watford Observer |last=Gray |first=Ryan |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=9 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1125885/2019/08/09/z-cars-is-more-than-music-but-will-watfords-walk-on-song-return/ |title=Z-Cars is more than music – but will Watford's walk-on song return? |work=The Athletic |last=Leventhal |first=Adam |date=9 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPCV9zt_foU |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/NPCV9zt_foU| archive-date=2021-12-11|title=Welcome back Z Cars, Watford FC, 10/08/19 |website=youtube.com |date=11 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center; font-size: 100%;"
|-
!Period
!Kit manufacturer
!Shirt sponsor
|-
|1974–1982
|rowspan=5|[[Umbro]]
| —
|-
|1982–1985
|[[Iveco]]
|-
|1985–1988
|Solvite
|-
|1988–1989
|Eagle Express
|-
|1989–1991
|[[Northumberland Herald and Post|Herald & Post]]
|-
|1991–1993
|[[Bukta]]
|[[RCI (company)|RCI]]
|-
|1993–1995
|[[Hummel International|Hummel]]
|rowspan=2|[[Blaupunkt]]
|-
|1995–1996
|rowspan=2|[[Mizuno Corporation|Mizuno]]
|-
|1996–1998
|rowspan=2|CTX
|-
|1998–1999
|rowspan=2|[[Le Coq Sportif]]
|-
|1999–2001
|[[Phones 4u]]
|-
|2001–2003
|rowspan=2|Kit@
|[[Toshiba]]
|-
|2003–2005
|[[TotalEnergies]]
|-
|2005–2007
|rowspan=2|[[Diadora]]
|[[Loans.co.uk]]
|-
|2007–2009
|[[Beko]]
|-
|2009–2010
|[[Joma]]
|Evolution HDTV
|-
|2010–2012
|[[Burrda Sport|Burrda]]
|[[Burrda Sport|Burrda]]
|-
|2012–2013
|rowspan=2|[[Puma AG|Puma]]
|[[Football Manager]]
|-
|2013–2016
|rowspan=2|[[138.com]]
|-
|2016–2017
|[[Dryworld]]
|-
|2017–2019
| rowspan="2" |[[Adidas]]
|[[FxPro]]
|-
|2019–2020
|rowspan=2|[[Sportsbet.io]]
|-
|2020–2021
|rowspan=3|[[Kelme (company)|Kelme]]
|-
|2021–2023
|[[Stake.com]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunt |first=Holly |date=2021-07-22 |title=Watford inks 'club-record' principal partnership with Stake.com |url=https://insidersport.com/2021/07/22/watford-inks-club-record-principal-partnership-with-stake-com/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Insider Sport |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2023-
|[[MrQ]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Official: Watford FC & MrQ Announce New Partnership |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/club/official-watford-fc-mrq-announce-new-partnership |website=www.watfordfc.com |access-date=15 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
|}

==Stadium==
{{Main|Vicarage Road}}
[[File:Watford v Coventry, Vicarage Road, 2000.jpg|thumb|230px|right|Watford fans at Vicarage Road, on the last day of the [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|1999–2000 season]]]]
Watford Rovers played at several grounds in the late 19th century, including [[Cassiobury Park]], Vicarage Meadow and Market Street, [[Watford]]. In 1890, the team moved to a site on [[Cassio Road]], and remained there for 32 years, before moving to Watford's current stadium at nearby [[Vicarage Road]] in 1922.<ref name=chronology/> The new stadium was initially owned by [[Benskins Brewery]]; the club rented the ground until 2001, when it purchased the freehold outright. However, the club's financial situation worsened following the purchase, and in 2002 Watford sold the ground for £6&nbsp;million in a deal which entitled Watford to buy the stadium back for £7&nbsp;million in future. Watford took up this option in 2004 using a campaign backed and funded by the fans called "Lets buy back the Vic".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobile.watfordobserver.co.uk/search/516393.Watford_seal_Vicarage_Road_deal/|title=Watford seal Vicarage Road Deal|work=Watford Observer|author=Phillips, Oli|date=6 August 2004|access-date=23 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822082325/http://mobile.watfordobserver.co.uk/search/516393.Watford_seal_Vicarage_Road_deal/|archive-date=22 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Vicarage Road is a four-sided ground with a capacity of 21,577.<ref name="expansion 2">{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150608-vicarage-road-stadium-north-east-corner-2486084.aspx |title=Stadium Update: North-East Corner Transformation To Begin |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=9 June 2015 |access-date=10 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609230138/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150608-vicarage-road-stadium-north-east-corner-2486084.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The East Stand, part of which was constructed in 1922, was closed to the general public in 2008 for health and safety reasons, although it still hosted the dressing rooms and the matchday press area.<ref>Affleck, Kevin (31 July 2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20130611063339/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ "Watford forced to close East Stand"]. ''[[Watford Observer]]''. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/3559565.Watford_forced_to_close_East_Stand/ the original] on 18 April 2012.</ref> In November 2013, the East Stand was demolished and in its place a new steel-framed, 3,500-seater stand was constructed. The stand opened fully on Boxing Day 2014 and was named The Elton John Stand after the club's longstanding chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11669436.VIDEO__Watch_the_construction_of_the_Sir_Elton_John_Stand/|title=VIDEO: Watch the construction of the Sir Elton John Stand|work=Watford Observer|date=16 December 2014 }}</ref> The Graham Taylor Stand<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30314903|title=BBC Sport – Ex-England boss Graham Taylor 'honoured' by Watford gesture|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> (previously the Rous Stand), built in 1986, has two tiers and runs the length of the pitch, with the upper section containing the club's corporate hospitality. At either end of the pitch, The Vicarage Road Stand is split between the club's family section and away supporters, while the Rookery Stand is for home supporters only. Both stands were built in the 1990s, financed by proceeds from player sales.<ref>[http://www.wfc.net/stadium.htm "The stadium"]. ''wfc.net''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120403004940/http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ "The details are Petchey"]. ''Harrow Times''. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.harrowtimes.co.uk/news/295444.the_details_are_petchey/ the original] on 18 April 2012.</ref> In the summer of 2015, The Elton John Stand was revamped in order to accommodate an extra 700 seats.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/stadium-2483443.aspx |title=Stadium Update: Extra Sir Elton John Stand Capacity |publisher=Watford F.C. |date=7 June 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609230141/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/stadium-2483443.aspx |archive-date=9 June 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This number was revised a day later to around 1,000 extra seats following the announcement of an expansion in the north-east corner.<ref name="expansion 2"/>

Between 1997 and early 2013, Watford shared Vicarage Road with [[rugby union]] side [[Saracens F.C.]]<ref>Smith, Frank (10 May 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9017371.Saracens_will_be_staying_at_Vicarage_Road/ "Saracens will be staying at Vicarage Road"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Last game at Vicarage Road sees Saracens through to Heineken Cup quarters|url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/archive/2013/01/20/10173690.Last_game_at_Vicarage_Road_sees_Saracens_through_to_Heineken_Cup_quarters/?ref=arc|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141028185548/http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/archive/2013/01/20/10173690.Last_game_at_Vicarage_Road_sees_Saracens_through_to_Heineken_Cup_quarters/?ref=arc|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 October 2014|newspaper=Watford Observer|date=20 January 2013}}</ref> The stadium has hosted matches for the [[England national under-21 football team|England under-21s]],<ref>Hershman, Josh (1 September 2011). [https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0deb3b49784a-bd7080cb8d57-1000--england-begin-with-six-goal-victory/ "England begin with six-goal victory"]. [[UEFA]]. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref> and senior international football between overseas teams.<ref>Smith, Frank (13 October 2011). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9305515.Ghana_friendly_was_a_success/ "Ghana friendly was a success"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref> Elton John has also used Vicarage Road as a venue for concerts: He first played at the stadium in 1974 and returned in 2005 and 2010 to stage fundraising concerts for the club.<ref>Smith, Frank (4 June 2010). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/8200643.Elton_John_gig_to_raise_around___600_000_for_players/ "Elton John gig to raise around £600,000 for players"]. ''Watford Observer''. Retrieved 20 April 2012.</ref> Former events include horse and carriage shows<ref name=j15/> and [[greyhound racing]].<ref>Mott, Sue (4 May 2001). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/3004711/Taylor-made-for-management.html "Taylor made for management"]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 21 April 2012.</ref>

The [[Watford Training Ground]] is located on the [[University College London Union]] (UCLU) Shenley Sports grounds in [[St Albans]], [[Hertfordshire]].

==Luton rivalry==
{{Main|Luton Town F.C.–Watford F.C. rivalry}}

Watford fans maintain a rivalry with those of [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]. The two sides met regularly in the Southern League between 1900 and 1920,<ref>Jones 1998, pp. 27–63.</ref> and continued to do so in The Football League until 1937,<ref name=head2head /> when Luton gained promotion from Division Three South. Luton remained in a higher division than Watford until 1963.<ref name=hertsbeds>Harrison, David (March 2002). [http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2944/29/ "Herts rule Beds"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523035053/http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/2944/29/ |date=23 May 2012 }}. ''[[When Saturday Comes]]''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref>

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Watford and Luton met sporadically. Despite this, the rivalry grew in significance, particularly following an ill-tempered match between the sides in 1969, in which three players were sent off.<ref name=hertsbeds /> Both sides won promotion to the First Division in the 1981–82 season, with Luton taking the championship ahead of Watford.<ref name=promotion1982 /> They were also relegated together from the new Division 1 (now the Premier League) in 1995–96, with Watford finishing 23rd ahead of bottom-placed Luton.<ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one/1995-1996 "English Division One 1995–1996: Table"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014204308/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one/1995-1996 |date=14 October 2018}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref><ref name=flc group=lower-alpha /> Watford's promotion from Division 2 in 1997–98 meant that the two sides did not meet again until Luton won promotion to the Championship for the 2005–06 season.<ref name=flc group=lower-alpha /> The only meeting between those seasons – a League Cup tie in the 2002–03 season – was marred by violence inside Vicarage Road.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2249877.stm|title=Joint probe launched into trouble|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=7 February 2011|date=11 September 2002}}</ref>

On 2 January 2006, Watford won 2–1 at Kenilworth Road in the Championship, followed by a 1–1 draw between the sides, on 9 April 2006, a point that secured Watford's place in the 2006 Championship play-offs, from which they eventually won promotion to the Premier League for the second time, beating Leeds United 3–0 at the [[Millennium Stadium]] in [[Cardiff]].<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/4867690.stm "Watford 1–1 Luton"]. BBC Sport. 9 April 2006. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref>

Over a fourteen-season span, Watford played in a higher division than Luton (between the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] and the [[2019–20 in English football|2019–20]] seasons), with Luton dropping out of the football league altogether for six seasons between [[2009–10 in English football|2009–10]] and [[2014–15 in English football|2014–15]].<ref name=recentseasons>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/history/modern "Watford history 1975 to date"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416052604/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/history/modern |date=16 April 2011}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref><ref>Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/luton-town/history/modern "Luton Town history 1975 to date"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608001939/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/luton-town/history/modern |date=8 June 2012}}. Statto.com. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref>

The rivalry between the two clubs resumed in the [[2020–21 in English football|2020–21]] season. On 26 September 2020, Watford won the first league match of the season between the two clubs, 1–0, at Vicarage Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/match-report/match-report-watford-1-0-luton-town |title=Watford 1–0 Luton Town |publisher=Watford Football Club |last=Affleck |first=Kevin |date=26 August 2020 |access-date=9 August 2021 }}</ref> On 17 April 2021 in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road, Luton won the match 1–0. With Watford's promotion back to the [[Premier League]] for season [[2021–22 in English football|2021–22]], the rivalry did not commence that year; although it resumed for the [[2022–23 in English football|2022–23]] season after Watford's immediate relegation from the Premier League, whilst Luton remained in the Championship. Luton were promoted to the [[2023–24 Premier League]], but were relegated back to the Championship after one season.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

The head-to-head record between the clubs, in competitions which currently exist, stands at Luton 55 wins, Watford 38 wins, with 29 draws.{{efn|This refers to games played in [[English Football League|The Football League]], [[FA Cup]] and [[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]. Soccerbase covers matches played in these competitions since Watford joined the Football League in 1920 – the record in these matches is Luton 35 wins, Watford 27 wins, 22 draws.<ref name=head2head>[http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=2741&team2_id=1628 "Head-to-head: Watford vs Luton"]. ''Soccerbase''. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 April 2012.</ref> The teams met five times in the FA Cup prior to the 1920–21 season: Luton won 4 games, and the other was drawn.<ref>{{cite web |title=Watford's FA Cup history |publisher=Watford Football Club |access-date=23 April 2012 |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0,,10400~1229279,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211013940/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10400~1229279%2C00.html |archive-date=11 February 2010}}</ref>}}

==Players==
{{see also|List of Watford F.C. players}}

===Current squad===
{{updated|1 September 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=First-team squad |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team |publisher=Watford F.C. |access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref>
<!-- Please do not add players to this list based on transfer rumours. Only OFFICIALY CONFIRMED players can be listed here. Players listed those in reference, plus those who've made first-team league appearances in current season. -->
{{fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=NOR|pos=GK|name=[[Egil Selvik]]}}
{{fs player|no=2|nat=COD|pos=DF|name=[[Jeremy Ngakia]]}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Max Alleyne]]|other=on loan from [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=CMR|pos=DF|name=[[Kévin Keben]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=CYP|pos=MF|name=[[Hector Kyprianou]]}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Mattie Pollock]]}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Tom Ince]]}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=GEO|pos=MF|name=[[Giorgi Chakvetadze]]}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=DEN|pos=FW|name=[[Luca Kjerrumgaard]]|other=on loan from [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=MAR|pos=MF|name=[[Imrân Louza]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Rocco Vata]]}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Nathan Baxter (footballer)|Nathan Baxter]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=BEL|pos=MF|name=[[Pierre Dwomoh]]}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Marc Bola]]}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=FRA|pos=MF|name=[[Moussa Sissoko]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=POR|pos=FW|name=[[Vivaldo Semedo]]}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=MLI|pos=FW|name=[[Mamadou Doumbia (footballer, born 2006)|Mamadou Doumbia]]}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[James Morris (footballer, born 2001)|James Morris]]}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=SEN|pos=MF|name=[[Nampalys Mendy]]}}
{{fs player|no=25|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[James Abankwah]]|other=on loan from [[Udinese Calcio|Udinese]]}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=USA|pos=DF|name=[[Caleb Wiley]]|other=on loan from [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=SEN|pos=DF|name=[[Formose Mendy (footballer, born 2001)|Formose Mendy]]|other=on loan from [[FC Lorient|Lorient]]}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=MTQ|pos=DF|name=[[Jeremy Petris]]}}
{{Fs player|no=34|nat=GER|pos=FW|name=[[Kwadwo Baah]]}}
{{fs player|no=39|nat=COD|pos=MF|name=[[Edo Kayembe]]}}
{{Fs player|no=41|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Alfie Marriott}}
{{Fs player|no=42|nat=MAR|pos=FW|name=[[Othmane Maamma]]}}
{{Fs player|no=43|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Jack Grieves]]}}
{{Fs player|no=66|nat=AUS|pos=FW|name=[[Nestory Irankunda]]}}
{{fs end}}

===Out on loan===
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=24|nat=NGA|pos=MF|name=[[Tom Dele-Bashiru]]|other=on loan to [[Gençlerbirliği SK|Gençlerbirliği SK]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Myles Roberts]]|other=on loan to [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=49|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Michael Adu-Poku]]|other=on loan to [[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=COL|pos=FW|name=[[Jorge Cabezas Hurtado]]|other=on loan to [[Millonarios F.C.|Millonarios]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=AUT|pos=GK|name=[[Daniel Bachmann]]|other=on loan to [[Deportivo de La Coruña|Deportivo]] until 30 June 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=51|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Travis Akomeah]]|other=on loan to [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] until 5 January 2026}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=GEO|pos=FW|name=Nikoloz Chikovani|other=on loan to [[Zebra Elites|Zebra Elites]] until 31 December 2025}}
{{fs end}}

===Under-21s and Academy {{anchor|Under-21s and Academy}}===
{{Main|Watford F.C. Under-21s and Academy}}

''Under-21s or academy players to have been given a senior squad number in 2025/26''

{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=47|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Zavier Massiah-Edwards]]}}
{{Fs player|no=50|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Josh Mullins}}
{{Fs player|no=52|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Leo Ramirez-Espain]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=53|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Amin Nabizada]]}}
{{Fs player|no=55|nat=SWE|pos=GK|name=Jonathan Macaulay}}
{{Fs player|no=57|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ian Kamga}}
{{Fs end}}

==Managers==
{{Main|List of Watford F.C. managers}}

[[File:Graham Taylor.jpg|thumb|right|175px|[[Graham Taylor]] took Watford from the Fourth Division to the First, between 1977 and 1982.]]Watford's team was selected by committee until 1903, when former [[England national football team|England]] international [[John Goodall]] was appointed [[player-coach|player-manager]]. The impact was immediate, as Watford secured promotion to the Southern League First Division in 1903–04. Goodall retired as a player in 1907, and left the club in 1910. He was replaced by his former captain, [[Harry Kent (footballer)|Harry Kent]], who become known for his financial management of the club; under Kent, Watford frequently made a profit in the transfer market.<ref>Phillips 1991, pp. 38–41.</ref> Kent led the club to the Southern League title in [[1914–15 Watford F.C. season|1914–15]], and missed out on a second title in [[1919–20 Watford F.C. season|1919–20]] on [[goal average]], before resigning in 1926. His three immediate successors – [[Fred Pagnam]], [[Neil McBain]] and [[Bill Findlay (Scottish footballer)|Bill Findlay]] – all played for Watford before and during the early part of their managerial tenures. None were able to lead the team to promotion from the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]], although Findlay did lead Watford to a [[Football League Third Division South Cup|Third Division South Cup]] win in 1937.

Up until Findlay's departure in 1947, Watford had been managed by five managers in 44 years, all of whom played for the team. By contrast, six men managed the club between 1947 and 1956, only two of whom were former Watford players.<ref name="managers">Jones 1996, pp. 267–274.</ref> After a further three years under McBain between 1956 and 1959, Watford's following three managers presided over improved teams. [[Ron Burgess (footballer)|Ron Burgess]] led Watford to promotion from the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in 1959–60. [[Bill McGarry]] was only in charge for one full season (1963–64), but Watford recorded a finish of third in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]], the club's highest Football League finish until that point. His successor [[Ken Furphy]] matched that achievement in 1966–67, and led Watford to the Third Division title in 1969, before taking the club to its first [[FA Cup]] semi-final in 1970. Following Furphy's departure in 1971, Watford entered a period of decline, experiencing relegation under subsequent managers [[George Kirby (footballer)|George Kirby]] and [[Mike Keen]].<ref name="managers" />

Graham Taylor took charge of Watford in 1977. He led the club to promotion to the Third Division in 1978, the Second Division in 1979, and the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] for the first time in Watford's history in 1982. After a second-placed finish in the First Division in 1983, Watford competed in European competition for the first time in 1983–84, as well as reaching the [[1984 FA Cup final]]. Taylor left the club at the end of 1986–87. Under the six subsequent permanent managers ([[Dave Bassett]], [[Steve Harrison (footballer)|Steve Harrison]], [[Colin Lee]], [[Steve Perryman]], [[Glenn Roeder]] and [[Kenny Jackett]]), Watford slid from 9th in the top tier in 1987, to 13th in the third tier in 1997. Taylor returned as manager for the start of the 1997–98 season. He led the club to consecutive promotions, but could not prevent relegation from the [[Premier League]] in [[1999–2000 Watford F.C. season|1999–2000]]. Since Taylor's retirement in 2001, Watford have had twelve managers. Of these, [[Aidy Boothroyd]] took Watford back to the Premier League in 2006, but Watford were relegated in 2007, and Boothroyd departed in 2008.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7707054.stm "Boothroyd & Watford part company"]. BBC Sport. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref>

Following Watford's takeover by the Pozzo family, [[Gianfranco Zola]] was appointed head coach, replacing former centre back [[Sean Dyche]] in July 2012,.<ref name="managers2" /> Zola took Watford to third position in the Championship in 2012–13 but resigned on 16 December 2013. He was replaced by fellow Italian [[Giuseppe Sannino|Beppe Sannino]] in December 2013. Sannino guided the team to a final league position of 13th.

Despite winning four of the first five league matches of the 2014–15 season, and with Watford sitting in 2nd place, Sannino's position had become the subject of much speculation following rumours of dressing-room unrest and some players taking a dislike to his style of management.{{cn|date=May 2025}} Sannino resigned from his position as head coach on 31 August 2014 after just over eight months in charge. His final game in charge was a 4–2 win at home to [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] the day before.

Sannino's departure initiated a bizarre sequence of events which led to Watford having three further head coaches in little more than a month. On 2 September, Watford confirmed the appointment of former [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]] head coach [[Óscar García Junyent|Óscar García]] as the successor to Sannino. García, however, resigned from his position on 29 September 2014 for health reasons, having been admitted to hospital with chest pains a couple of weeks prior. [[Billy McKinlay]], who had only been appointed first team coach on 26 September 2014, was appointed as his immediate successor on the same day – his first position in management.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11686/9549731/billy-mckinlay-is-still-bemused-after-a-short-spell-at-watford/|title=Bill McKinlay left bemused following his spell at Watford|work=Sky Sports|date=4 November 2014|access-date=5 June 2018}}</ref> A week later, McKinlay was released by mutual consent and former [[FK Partizan|Partizan]] coach [[Slaviša Jokanović]] appointed in his place, apparently because the club favoured a head coach with greater experience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/11522881.COMMENT__Must_be_more_to_Watford_s_disgraceful_treatment_of_McKinlay/?ref=mrs |title=Must be more to Watford's disgraceful - yet brave - decision to replace Billy McKinlay |work=Watford Observer |first=Frank |last=Smith |date=8 October 2014 |access-date=2 November 2019}}</ref>

On 4 June 2015, [[Quique Sánchez Flores]] was announced as the new head coach as the replacement to Jokanović,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/13315768.Flores_is_Hornets__new_boss/ |title=Former Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores is Watford's new head coach |work=Watford Observer |first=Anthony |last=Matthews|date=4 June 2015 |access-date=2 November 2019 }}</ref> who had failed to agree contract terms. Despite going on to lead the newly promoted Watford to a comfortable mid-table position in the Premier League and the semi-final of the FA Cup, it was announced on 13 May 2016 that Sánchez Flores would be leaving the club at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Burnton|first1=Simon|title=Quique Sánchez Flores was no longer the answer to Watford's question|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/may/14/quique-sanchez-flores-watford-departure-explained|access-date=14 May 2016|work=The Guardian|date=14 May 2016}}</ref>

Following Sánchez Flores's departure, Walter Mazzarri was announced as Watford's head coach starting on 1 July 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/walter-mazzarri-watford-fc-head-coach-premier-league-3121237.aspx |title=Walter Mazzarri Appointed Head Coach At Watford |work=Watford F.C. |date=21 May 2016 |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603161817/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/walter-mazzarri-watford-fc-head-coach-premier-league-3121237.aspx |archive-date=3 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mazzari's tenure as manager was terminated at the end of the season. On 27 May 2017 [[Marco Silva]] was appointed head coach.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/club/silva-named-hornets-head-coach |title=Silva Named Hornets' Head Coach |work=Watford F.C. |date=27 May 2017 |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230220215/https://www.watfordfc.com/club/silva-named-hornets-head-coach |archive-date=30 December 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 21 January 2018, [[Javi Gracia]] was appointed as head coach following Silva's departure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/club/official-gracia-named-hornets-head-coach |title=Gracia Named Hornets' Head Coach |work=Watford F.C. |date=27 January 2018 |access-date=2 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180307093127/https://www.watfordfc.com/club/official-gracia-named-hornets-head-coach |archive-date=7 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Gracia guided the club to a successful 2018–19 Premier League campaign which saw Watford finish with their highest ever points tally in English Premier League football.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

Since around 2019, the club have gained notoriety for an excessive number of managerial sackings and a lack of time given to managers, instead sacking them very quickly after a poor run of form. After a disappointing start to the 2019–20 season, Javi Gracia was dismissed and replaced by previous manager Quique Sánchez Flores. Then Quique Sánchez Flores was dismissed again after a 2–1 loss to Southampton on 1 December. On 6 December 2019, [[Nigel Pearson]] agreed to take manager's job, with Craig Shakespeare as his assistant, on a short-term contract to the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/06/watford-nigel-pearson-manager-talks-end-of-season|title=Nigel Pearson agrees to take Watford manager's job till end of season|work=The Guardian|date=6 December 2019|access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref> He was sacked on 19 July 2020 with two games to go with Hayden Mullins appointed as interim coach until the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/club/club-statement-nigel-pearson |title=Pearson sacked after 3–1 defeat against West Ham |work=Watford F.C. |date=20 June 2020 |access-date=19 June 2020 }}</ref>

In the 2020–21 season, there were two more coaches, beginning with [[Vladimir Ivic]], and followed by [[Xisco Munoz]], who ultimately steered Watford towards promotion to the Premier League. Xisco continued to coach the team for the 2021–22 Premier League campaign until October 2021, and was subsequently followed by [[Claudio Ranieri]] from October 2021 to January 2022. Former England manager [[Roy Hodgson]] took hold of the reigns from February 2022 until the season's end, where Watford finished in 19th place and were relegated from the Premier League.

[[Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)|Rob Edwards]] was announced as the new manager for the [[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23]] season, but was released by the club in September 2022 after 11 games in charge.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/club-statement-edwards-departs-hornets | title=Club Statement: Edwards Departs Hornets }}</ref> [[Slaven Bilić]] was announced as his replacement on an 18-month contract.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-bilic-appointed-hornets-head-coach | title=Official: Bilić Appointed Hornets' Head Coach }}</ref> Bilic was subsequently sacked on 7 March 2023 and replaced by [[Chris Wilder]] on a short-term contract until the end of the season, making it the third time in four seasons the club has had three head coaches in one season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-07 |title=Watford sack Slaven Bilic and appoint Chris Wilder as new manager |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/07/watford-sack-manager-slaven-bilic-to-re-energise-championship-push |access-date=2023-03-07 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> On 10 May 2023, French coach [[Valérien Ismaël]] was appointed head coach ahead of the 2023–24 Championship season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official: Ismaël Appointed Head Coach |url=https://www.watfordfc.com/news/official-ismael-appointed-head-coach |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=www.watfordfc.com |language=en}}</ref> Following the dismissal of Valérien Ismaël on 9 March 2024, Tom Cleverley was named as interim head coach.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-03-09 |title=Watford: Tom Cleverley named interim boss after Valerien Ismael sacked |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66680954 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> On 24 April 2024, Cleverley was given the head coach role on a permanent basis having lost only once in his seven matches in interim charge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Press |date=2025-05-06 |title=Watford sack yet another manager |url=https://www.the42.ie/tom-cleverley-6696845-May2025/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=The 42 |language=en}}</ref>In May 2025, he was dismissed from his role as manager of Watford.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-06 |title=Tom Cleverley: Watford sack head coach after falling short of play-offs |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c983w3d6w7jo |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Club officials==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position
! Name
|-
| Head coach
| [[Javi Gracia]]
|-
| Assistant head coach
| [[Zigor Aranalde]]
|-
| Goalkeeping coach
| [[Iñigo Arteaga]]
|-
| First-team analysts
| Andrew Douglas <br/>Lewis Boulter
|-
| Sporting director
| Richard Ainsley
|-
| Assistant to sporting director
| [[Valon Behrami]]
|-
| Academy director
| [[Richard Johnson (soccer)|Richard Johnson]]
|-
| Academy head of coaching
| [[Micah Hyde (footballer)|Micah Hyde]]
|-
| Under-21s lead coach
| [[Charlie Daniels (footballer)|Charlie Daniels]]
|-
| Under-21s assistant coach
| [[Adrian Mariappa]]
|-
| Under-18s lead coach
| [[Dan Gosling]]
|-
| Under-18s assistant coach
| [[Lloyd Doyley]]
|-
| Head of academy goalkeeping
| [[Gary Phillips (English footballer)|Gary Phillips]]
|}

==Honours==
{{For|a complete record of the club's achievements|List of Watford F.C. seasons}}

[[File:Milleniumstadiumchampionshipplayofffinal06.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Victory in the [[2006 Football League Championship play-off final]] against [[Leeds United FC|Leeds United]] gained Watford promotion to the Premier League<ref name="Leedsplayoff">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4771857.stm |title=Leeds 0–3 Watford |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 May 2006 |access-date=24 April 2012}}</ref>]]

'''League'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 1)
**Runners-up: [[1982–83 Football League|1982–83]]
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / [[Football League First Division|First Division]] / [[EFL Championship|Championship]] (level 2)
**Runners-up: [[1981–82 Football League|1981–82]], [[2014–15 Football League Championship|2014–15]], [[2020–21 EFL Championship|2020–21]]
**Play-off winners: [[1999 Football League First Division play-off final|1999]], [[2006 Football League Championship play-off final|2006]]
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] (level 3)
**Champions: [[1968–69 Football League|1968–69]], [[1997–98 Football League|1997–98]] 
**Runners-up: [[1978–79 Football League|1978–79]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[1977–78 Football League|1977–78]]
*[[Southern Football League]]
**Champions: [[1914–15 Southern Football League|1914–15]]
**Runners-up: [[1919–20 Southern Football League|1919–20]]

'''Cup'''
*[[FA Cup]]
**Runners-up: [[1983–84 FA Cup|1983–84]], [[2018–19 FA Cup|2018–19]]

==Records==
{{Main|List of Watford F.C. records and statistics}}

Striker [[Luther Blissett ]] holds the record for Watford appearances, having played 503 matches in all competitions between 1976 and 1992, and his 415 appearances in [[English Football League|The Football League]] during the same period is also a club record. Blissett holds the corresponding goalscoring records, with 186 career Watford goals, 148 of which were in the league. The records for the most league goals in a season is held by [[Cliff Holton]], having scored 42 goals in the 1959–60 season. The highest number of goals scored by a player in a single game at a professional level is the six registered by Harry Barton against [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]] in September 1903.<ref name="wfcrecords">[https://archive.today/20110718004727/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0,,10400~65910,00.html "Watford FC club records"]. Watford Football Club. 15 December 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2012. Archived from [http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0,,10400~65910,00.html the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722132803/http://www.watfordfc.com/page/History/0%2C%2C10400~65910%2C00.html |date=22 July 2012 }} on 18 July 2011.</ref>

Watford's biggest ever competitive win came in 1900, when the team defeated [[Maidenhead F.C.|Maidenhead]] 11–0 in the Southern League Second Division.<ref name="wfcrecords" /> The team's biggest Football League winning margin is 8–0; this first occurred in a Third Division South match against [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] in 1924, and was repeated in a First Division match against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in 1982. Both of these matches were at home – Watford have won an away league match by five goals on six occasions, most recently in the 6–1 win against Leeds United at [[Elland Road]] in 2012. The most goals scored in a Football League game involving Watford is 11, in Watford's 7–4 victories against [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]], [[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]] and [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] in 1934, 1937 and 2003 respectively.<ref name="stattorecords">Brown, Tony. [http://www.statto.com/football/teams/watford/records "Watford records"]. ''statto.com''. Retrieved 18 April 2012.</ref> The club's highest home attendance is 34,099, for a fourth round FA Cup match against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 3 February 1969. The record home league attendance is 27,968 against [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] in August of the same year.<ref name="wfcrecords" /> Watford's home capacity has since been reduced due to all-seater requirements; it currently stands at 21,577.<ref name=capacity>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/clubs/20100801/watford_2293498_692872|title=Watford Football Club|publisher=[[English Football League|The Football League]]|access-date=18 April 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421020630/http://www.football-league.co.uk/clubs/20100801/watford_2293498_692872|archive-date=21 April 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

== Footnotes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|title=Tales from the Vicarage, volume one|last=Birnie|first=Lionel|publisher=Peloton Publishing|year=2012|isbn=978-0-9567814-2-0}}
* {{cite book|title=The 100 Greatest Watford Wins|last=Birnie|first=Lionel|publisher=Peloton Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-0-9567814-1-3}}
* {{cite book|title=Enjoy the Game – Watford FC, The Story of the Eighties|last=Birnie|first=Lionel|publisher=Peloton Publishing|year=2010|isbn=978-0-9567814-0-6}}
* {{cite book|title=Four Seasons – Watford FC 1997–2001|last=Birnie|first=Lionel & Cozzi, Alan|publisher=lionelbirnie.com|year=2001|isbn=0-9541757-0-0}}
* {{cite book|title=The Golden Boys: A Study of Watford's Cult Heroes|publisher=Alpine Press Ltd|year=2001|isbn=0-9528631-6-2|author=Phillips, Oliver}}
* {{cite book|title=Watford Season by Season|last=Jones|first=Trefor|publisher=T.G. Jones|year=1998|isbn=0-9527458-1-X}}
* {{cite book|title=Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who|last=Jones|first=Trefor|publisher=T.G. Jones|year=1996|isbn=0-9527458-0-1}}
* {{cite book|title=The Official Centenary History of Watford FC 1881–1991|last=Phillips|first=Oliver|publisher=Watford Football Club|year=1991|isbn=0-9509601-6-0}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{BBC football info|BBClinkname=watford}}
* [https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2741 Watford statistics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116210242/http://www.soccerbase.com/teams2.sd?teamid=2741 |date=2006-11-16}} at [[Soccerbase]] (archived)
* [http://www.watfordlegends.com/ Watford Legends – Interviews with former Watford players]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205063733/http://www.hornethistory.com/ Hornet History – History of Watford Football Club from 1940s]}} (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131210113349/http://www.forzawatford.com/ Forza Watford – Watford news and opinion] (archived)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140409172903/http://www.answers-to-questions.info/England-Football-Play-Offs.aspx?team=Watford Play-Off record for Watford] (archived)
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/paulfletcher/2010/12/watford_offer_a_glimpse_of_the.html Watford break the mould in youth development]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723143354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/legacy/paulfletcher/2010/12/watford_offer_a_glimpse_of_the.html |date=23 July 2014 }}.

{{Watford F.C.}}
{{EFL Championship}}
{{Premier League}}
{{Authority control}}

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